Table Of Content
And once the balloon was out of sight, passengers rushed to Expedition Central to watch the real-time data arriving on the computers. Here are our impressions of the ship, the onboard science and other offerings, and tips on activities and excursions in ports visited on Viking Octantis Great Lakes sailing. Viking's 15-day itineraries visit all five of the Great Lakes, giving passengers a chance to traverse the Soo Locks as well as visit Niagara Falls. The shorter, eight-day cruises use either Thunder Bay, Ontario, or Milwaukee as a homeport and visit lakes Huron, Superior and Michigan. These, too, go through the Soo Locks, dubbed the “Linchpin of the Great Lakes” by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content.
Wine Included
The commonality of all Viking Great Lakes itineraries is that they visit a combination of U.S. and Canadian ports. Itinerary and shore excursions are subject to change and may vary by departure. What I really liked was that there’s no pressure to stay with the tour. You’re free to start with the tour and slip away if you find a restaurant you like or somewhere you want to linger (although it’s nice to let the guide know so they don’t wait for you). The entire ship is airy and light-filled and despite it being a small river ship, it feels more spacious and open than some large cruise ships. There’s generally an opportunity to sight see in the morning and afternoon, with one included tour and one optional tour.
Day 7: Kinderdijk, The Netherlands
Great Lakes Cruise Ship Industry Expected to Have $200M Economic Impact in 2024 - Newswire
Great Lakes Cruise Ship Industry Expected to Have $200M Economic Impact in 2024.
Posted: Mon, 04 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
We enjoyed our zodiac rides to and from excursions and loved exploring in the SOB, which launches from a slipway inside “The Hangar” and has individually suspended seats for an incredibly smooth ride at high speeds. Outdoors, the sunken Finse Terrace, just outside the Aula auditorium, was our favorite spot for relaxing in an out-of-the-way retreat with heated couches, lava rock firepits, and a hedge surround. We found or sections honoring other iconic explorers such as aviator Amelia Earhart as well. The Viking Voyager app has a fact-filled audio tour on the art throughout the ship, but we were happy to just stop on each floor and in the corridors to be amazed at what these early adventurers endured. We were pleased to see that Viking Octantis has made room for a well-equipped fitness room. For those who have sailed on one of Viking’s ocean ships, the Octantis expedition ship (and its twin, Viking Polaris, which will begin sailing later in 2022) will immediately feel familiar.
Ships
In Cairns, we did the included excursion and had a hopeless guide, so our review would not have been favourable. Many others did the same tour and had excellent guides, giving very positive reviews. We actually learned about things we saw from other pax once back on the ship. Viking Octantis and Polaris offer a wide range of activities and amenities. For starters, there's a 36-person expedition team, which includes scientists, marine specialists, naturalists and guides.
Onboard Amenities and Dining are Plentiful for a Small Cruise Ship
(The two subs on Viking Polaris will be named, you guessed it, George and Ringo). Other new Viking itineraries include a 14-day Patagonian shores and Chilean fjords journey from Santiago, Chile, to Ushuaia, a town that's been lovingly nicknamed "the end of the world." For example, both Octantis and Polaris are the first civilian ships to join the list of 102 official weather balloon launch stations sanctioned by the U.S. Onboard, passengers are able to have in depth discussions about the science of the area, Errera said. This includes lectures and even lab work, as Viking's expedition ships are working science vessels, and they engage their passengers in "citizen science." Ashore, the Great Lakes are a birders paradise, a great spot to spot bald eagles, loons, sandhill cranes and cormorants.
And one of the newest expedition cruise companies in the industry thinks it has the best option for sailing there. Viking Great Lakes cruises are grabbing the attention of travelers eager to try something new. And with two new expedition ships, Viking Cruises will deliver learning and adventure in style. From urban skylines to uninhabited islands, discover North America’s wilderness alongside renowned cultural attractions while cruising the striking waterways of the Great Lakes. Immerse yourself in the lakes’ compelling shipping history, experience the power of the thundering Niagara Falls and keep watch for scores of migratory birds at Point Pelee.
Get a close-up view of the majesty of the falls, including the largest, Horseshoe Falls. Savor the diversity of Toronto’s food scene and explore some of the city’s treasures.
I had already been to Cologne on a previous trip so instead, we opted for a palace excursion. We highly recommend adding a pre- or post-expedition overnight stay in Thunder Bay. The majestic Kakabeka Falls, known as the "Niagara of the North," is another highlight. And we got up early (with more than 50 other passengers) to witness the weekly -- for now -- launching of a weather balloon off the top deck. Thanks to its partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Viking Octantis (and Viking Polaris) have joined the sanctioned list of 102 other weather balloon launch stations sanctioned by the U.S. The balloons have transmitters that collect data on wind, temperature, and pressure.
We had a wonderful guide for this day who guided us throughout the small canals, pointing out colorful streets and letting us know about Strasbourg’s tangled history in the hands of Germany and France. Located in the Alsace Lorraine region, the town is part of France but throughout much of history, changed hands between Germany and France. I would recommend this trip if you enjoy small colorful towns, World War II history and good food. Hopefully, you reported your experience so that particular guide could be weeded out of the program. Even if it were available, as shore-ex are so contingent on the guide, I not sure how effective the data would be. Joanne and Tony DiBona know a thing or two about creating photo galleries to share their personal travel experiences around the world with their readers.
These military-grade vessels offer comfortable, high-speed journeys and are loaded and unloaded from inside the cruise ship. Rides on all these are free, though they require reservations and are subject to weather. Viking Great Lakes cruises offer a well-rounded variety of port visits, with big cities like Toronto and Milwaukee and lesser-known spots like the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin and Silver Islet in Ontario, Canada.
GENERAL RESTRICTIONSCruise fares listed are cruise only in U.S. dollars, per person, based on double occupancy. Full brochure fares may not have resulted in actual sales in all stateroom categories and may not have been in effect during the last 90 days. Air promotion applies to roundtrip flights only from select Viking Cruises U.S. gateways and includes airport-to-ship or hotel transfers, air taxes and air fuel surcharges. Roundtrip airport transfers are included when air is purchased with a cruise or cruisetour package; if air is not purchased from Viking, transfers may be purchased separately.
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